Windmill-regulator.



W. A. MILROY.

WINDMILL REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18,15112.

1,122,976. Patented De@.29,1914h NT @FFKQE.

WILLIAM A. MIL BOY, 0F CLAY CENTER, KANSA$.

WINDMILL-REGULATOR.

Application filed January 18, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. MILRoY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clay Center, in the county of Clay and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .Vindmill-ldegulators, of which the following is a specification. 5

My invention relates to governors for windmills and the object of my invention is to provide an improved device of this character whereby the windwheel may be automatically thrown out of the wind when I have constructed the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which- Figure l is a view showing my improved regulator or governor applied to a windmill; Fig. 2 an enlarged front view of the winding and releasing mechanism; Fig. 3 an edge view of the same; the parts in Fig. 2 being shown in full lines in the pumping position and in dotted lines in the still position; Fig. 4. is an edge View of the wheel; and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the rocking lever and its supporting element.

A, A. are uprights of a windmill having a horizontal brace 1 on which is mounted the front plate 2, back plate 3 and bracket 4: which form the frame of the winding and releasing mechanism, these parts being securely fastened to the brace 1, by bolts and nuts or other fastenings 5.

6 is a wheel having ratchet teeth 7, a smooth portion 8, and a counterweight 9 formed on its periphery, the ratchet teeth extending the full width of the wheel except where opposite the smooth portion, where the teeth are just wide enough to serve the pawl 12. lhe wheel 6 is mounted on a shaft 10 passing through plates 2 and 3 in such a position that the ratchet teeth may be engaged by pawls 11 and 12 mounted on specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1214.

Serial No. 671,953.

stub shafts 13 and 14. The stub-shafts 13 and 14: are secured respectively on a handle l5 and the plate 3. The handle 15 is pivotally mounted at 16 on the shaft 10 and has its free end connected to the pumping r0 A cable or wire 17 extending downward from the pull-out device of the windmill is attached to a link 18 pivoted at 19 to the lever 20, which lever is mounted on the shaft 10 at its front end.

Upwardly extending from the bracket 4 is a post 21 having a pair of forwardly extending ears 22 connected by a pin 23 on which is pivotally mounted a rocking lever 24 carrying at its lower end an inwardly projecting adjustable pin 25 the rocking lever being pressed away from the upwardly extending post at the lower end by a spring 26 coiled around the adjustable pin 25. A second inwardly projecting adjustable pin 27 is located above the pivot point of the rocking lever 24:.

Inserted in a hole 28 in the upper end of the rocking lever 2 1 is one end of a rod or bar 29, which has its other end pivoted to a bell crank lever 30, the bell crank lever 80 in turn being attached to a vertical float connecting rod or bar 31.

A tank 33 containing a float 3-1 is the means for starting and stopping the mechanism, the height of the water in the tank governing the action of the float 3 1 which is attached to the vertical bar 31.

A post 32 in a convenient position serves as a support for the bell crank lever in case there is no part of the windmill frame within convenient reach.

It is obvious that the movement of the pumping rod B up and down will, because it is connected to the handle 15, cause an oscillation of the handle 15, and that the pawl 11 on this handle will cause the rotation of the wheel 6 one notch at a time, back motion being prevented by the pawl 12. Such action will revolve the shaft 10 which is secured rigidly to the wheel 6 and the lever 20 until the pawl 11 rides onto the smooth portion 8 of the periphery of the a cessation of the pumping. In this position the .parts will remain until the water in the tank falls sufficiently to cause a pull on the rod 31 against the action of the spring 26. This pull will cause the rocking lever 24: to rock and to withdraw the pin 7 27 from its position in the socket in lever 20, thus releasing the link 18 which on being released will move up, slacken wire'17 and allow the pull-out device to throw the windwheel into the wind again and start the pumping action after the usual manner. With the moving upward of the link the wheel is caused to rotate so that the pawl 11 again engages the ratchet teeth. The gradual rotation of the wheel is again commenced, the rotation continuing until the tank is filled to the proper depth again. Wheel 6 remains stationary until the water in the tank has raised sul'liciently to cause lever 24 to withdraw pin 25 from contact with lever 20, when counterweight 9 will cause wheel 6 to turn forward so that pawl 11 again engages ratchet-teeth 7, when the action heretofore described is repeated. Owing to the absence of friction a very small float will serve to actuate the apparatus and springs not being essential to the operation of winding there is no sudden rush of parts due from the release of a spring. The small spring 26 used serves to aid in balancing the parts, but its failure would not influence a failure of action of the apparatus.

In operating my device it is first secured to the windmill tower by means of a plank or other suitable support placed about eight feet above the platform or ground. The rod 81, to which is attached the float 84, depends from the rocking lever 24: as described and the pump-shaft B isattached to the handle 15 either pivotally or by other operable means. The mill wheel is then turned into the wind and starts the pump to working.

a the water rises in the tank 33the float 3 1 gradually rises causing the lever. 24 to rock 011 post 22 so that, when the tank is full, the pin 25 is removed from contact with the lever 20 and'pin 27 engages said lever as described. Lever 20 is thus permitted to swing around till the parts 12 and 13 engage the operative portions of the wheel 6, whereupon link 18, hearing against the pin 27, pulls the mill wheel out of the wind and stops the operation of the machinery till the water in the tank is again lowered sufficiently to draw out pin 27 and allow link 18 to pass, again throwing the mill-wheel into the wind and the operation as described is repeated. The action. of the pump-shaft on the handle 15 causes the pawls 11 and 12 to alternately engage the ratchet teeth 7 and revolve the wheel 6 once around till thepawl 11 again rests on the smooth pordescribed.

Having thus described my invention the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A windmill starting and stopping apparatus comprising a ratchet wheel, an operating leversecured to a pump-rod and provided with a pawl "for advancing the ratchet wheel with a step by step movement, means for preventing the return of the ratchet wheel, a lever on the same shaft and moving with the ratchet wheel, a link having one end pivotally attached to the lever and the other end secured to the pullout operating wire of the windmill, a rocking lever mounted adjacent the lever, pins carried thereby for movement into and out partially of its width, a lever pivoted concentrically of and movable independently of the wheel, a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to move with the'wheel, a link pivoted to one end of the last lever and connected to the pull out cable, a fixed support, a rocking lever pivoted to said support, a pair of pins carried by the rocking leverand projecting toward the second le= ver, means to normally hold one pin in the path of said levers to prevent turning there of, and float-operated means to so hold the lever and prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel until a full supplyof water has been pumped, said means at such time operating to release the second lever.

3. A windmill regulator comprising a ratchet wheel, an operating lever operated by the pump rod of the windmill and provided with a pawl for advancing the ratchet wheel with a step by step movement, means for preventing the return of the ratchet wheel, a lever on the same shaft and moving with the ratchet wheel, a link having one end attached to the lever and the other to the pull-out operating wire of the windmill, a rocking lever adjacent the wheel, and means carried by the rocking lever for en gaging said lever for restraining the link when in a retracted position.

4. A windmill regulator comprising a ratchet wheel, a lever for moving the ratchet wheel with a step by step movement, means for preventing the return of the ratchet wheel, a lever on the same shaft and moving with the ratchet wheel, and having connection with the pull-out of the windmill, and means for restraining and releasing the lever, comprising a rocking lever operated by the rise and fall of a float, and pins carried by the rocking lever and positioned for advancement into and out of the path of the lever.

5. A windmill regulator comprising a suitably mounted ratchet wheel, a lever oscillated by the pump-rod of the windmill and carrying a pawl for advancing the ratchet Wheel with a step by step movement, a pawl for preventing the return of the ratchet wheel, a lever moving with the ratchet wheel and carrying a link connected with the pull-out of the windmill, a rocking lever, float operated means for rocking said lever, means carried by said lever for engaging the first named lever upon operation of the rocking lever for stopping the first named lever in its movement as soon as the pull-out of the windmill is withdrawn, and means for permitting the lever oscillated by the pump-rod to ride free on the ratchet wheel while the windmill is pumping.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. MILROY.

Witnesses:

EMMA HILDENBRAND, FRANK O. OBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

